Heat roll to 9th win in a row

December 14, 2010

The Heat trailed early and waited until the end of the third quarter to make their move, winning by double figures for the ninth game in a row by beating New Orleans 96-84.

Dwyane Wade scored 32 points, topping 30 for the third consecutive game, and Chris Bosh added 23 points and 11 rebounds. The Heat blew the game open with an 18-2 spurt that put them up 94-77.

LeBron James had 20 points and seven assists for Miami, back home after a four-game road sweep. Wade had an especially efficient night: 8-for-13 from the field and 14-of-17 from the free-throw line.

While the Heat roll, New Orleans continues to struggle. With a loss for the second day in a row, the Hornets fell to 3-9 since an 11-1 start. They haven't scored 100 points since Nov. 19, a stretch of 13 games.

David West had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who went 1 for 13 from three-point range.

The teams split the season series. New Orleans beat Miami 96-93 on Nov. 5.

Miami is now the sixth team in NBA history to win nine straight games by at least 10 points or more. James has had a hand in two of those runs - Cleveland was the last team to do it, between Nov. 22 and Dec. 9, 2008.

The 2007-08 Boston Celtics also won nine straight by double figures. The Heat have won nine in a row since Nov. 29, when they shook a slump in which they had lost four of five.

Wade, miffed about taking a hard foul from Jarrett Jack, scored 20 points in the second quarter, a Heat record for the period. That included his team's final 11 points to cut New Orleans' halftime lead to 54-53.